Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-27
TWO STEAMERS COLLIDE.
The Steamer Britannia Run Into by
the Celtic of the White Star
Line.
Great Damage Done to the Britannia
and Several Steerage Passengers
Killed.

New YORK, May 24.-On Thursday. May
10, at 5:25 p. ~, while the weather was
calm and the sea smooth, the British
steamer Celtic, of the White Star Line,
from Liverpool, came into collision with
the British steamer Britannia, of the
same line, striking her on the port side
aft and doing considerable damage. The
Britaunic's boats were lowered and filled
with women and children from the cabin
and steerage in an orderly and expedi-
tious manner. 1t is to their shame that
several meo forced themselves into the
boats. Meanwhile an examination was
made, and the damage to the Britannia
asceruained, and, it being found that the
vessel was not likely to founder, such
boats as were within hail were recalled
and their occupants received on board.
The others had boarded the Celtic. A
pad was made and placed over the hole
in the Britannic's die, and she was turned
about to New York, having arranged with
the Celtic to kee2 company. The sad
dest and most deplorable result of the
accident is that several steerage passen-
gers who were lounging about aft at the
time of the collision were killed and sew
eral others injured.
Both vessels accompanied by the steam
ships Marengo (British), from Swansea
for New York, and British Queen, from
Liverpool for New York, arrived at the
bar at o'clock this morning.
The above report is from the purser of
the Britannia, who refuses any further
information.
Some of the sIeerage passengers from
the Bltannic are stopping at the Miners
Arms hotel, No. 2 Front street. Both
steamships are anchored off the bar, be.
ing detained by fog.
The Celtlc's bow Is stove in, but other
wise the vessel is not much damaged,
The Britannic's compartment is full of
water. About sixty passengers remain
on board the Celtic, the rest having come
up 10 the city.
The captain, officers and passengers of
the Britannia desire very cordially to
thank the captains and officers of Mar
engo and British Queen for having so
promptly and kindly consented to stay
by the ship.
The steamboat William Fletcher start
ed from quarantine at 2:30 p. m. to go
down to the bar to take off the remain
ing passengers on the Celtic, but on
reaching the west bank, owing to dense
fog and heavy sea, it was deemed pru-
dent to return and wait till the fog clear
ed, as there would be great danger at
tending the transfer to the Celtic's pas
sengers to the Fletcher's deck. 1t was
during dense fog that the collision oc-
Cured. The Celtic struck the Britannia
bow on, hitting her abaft the muzz'e-
mast at No. hatch. The Celtic had per-
ceived the danger, reversed her engines
and struck the Britannia glancing blow,
when the latter commenced to fill rapidly.
The life-boats were Immediately launched,
and the work of transferring the passen-
gers to the Celtic began.
All the women and children were first
taken into the boats. Several of the male
steerage passengers jumped into the boats
as they were leaving the ships side,
otherwise the passengers behaved ad-
mirably.
The steamboat William Fletcher later
succeeded in reaching the Celtic at the
bar and transferred the latter's remain
ing passengers to her deck. She will
reach her dock in this city about 8:45
p. 10. One report says man and three
women were killed, while an other says
the victims were one woman, a child
aged 13 and five men.